A/RES/53/147
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Deeply alarmed at the persistence, on a large scale, of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in
all parts of the world,
Dismayed that in a number of countries impunity, the negation of justice, continues to prevail and often
remains the main cause of the continuing occurrence of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in
those countries,
Recalling, in this fiftieth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide,5 article 6 of the Convention, and acknowledging in this context the historic significance of the
adoption by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an
International Criminal Court of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,6
Acknowledging the contribution of the Conference with regard to ensuring effective prosecution
concerning executions in serious violation of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August
1949,7 without previous judgement pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all judicial
guarantees that are generally recognized as indispensable,
Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and to eliminate the abhorrent practice of
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant violation of the fundamental right
to life,
1. Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that continue
to take place throughout the world;
2. Demands that all Governments ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary
executions be brought to an end and that they take effective action to combat and eliminate the phenomenon
in all its forms;
3. Reiterates the obligation of all Governments to conduct exhaustive and impartial investigations
into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice
those responsible, to grant adequate compensation to the victims or their families and to adopt all necessary
measures to prevent the recurrence of such executions;
4. Notes the encouragement given to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to continue, within the framework of her mandate, to collect
information from all concerned and to seek the views and comments of Governments so as to be able to
respond effectively to reliable information that comes before her and to follow up communications and
country visits;
5. Reaffirms Economic and Social Council decision 1998/265 of 30 July 1998, in which the Council
endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1998/68, to extend the mandate
of the Special Rapporteur for three years;
5
Resolution 260 A (III).
6
A/CONF.183/9.
7
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973.
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